Jesse Marsch will NOT be taking over at Southampton after talks collapsed at the 11th hour.
Talks between the two parties broke down despite a verbal agreement in place. The former Leeds boss was due to take over from Nathan Jones following his sacking last week.
The decision to appoint the American had divided the opinion, given he struggled with Leeds this season. But after he reportedly stayed in Southampton on Tuesday night, he was widely expected to be confirmed as the new boss at St Mary's at some point on Wednesday.
A verbal agreement had even been made with the two parties expected to announce the deal any minute. But it seems a disagreement over contract length has led to talks breaking down altogether. Southampton were willing to offer the American a six-month deal with the option for longer conrract.
Marsch was reluctant to commit to such a short term offer and thus walked away from negotiations.
The Saints will now head to Stamford Bridge on Saturday still without a manager and three points adrift at the bottom of the table. A potentially pivotal trip to Marsch's former club, Leeds, follows seven days later.
Saints will now return to the drawing board knowing they will have a dearth of top managers to choose from. Sean Dyche would have been the obvious candidate but fellow relegation strugglers Everton snapped him up following the sacking of Frank Lampard.
On Tuesday, talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan slammed the possible appointment. He said: "I don't think he's got the chops. I don't know whether this is a board appointment or whether it's an owner appointment, if indeed it is going to happen, [though] I think we're quite solid on this and so is the perception of it.
"I don't think he's a good enough manager. I think he's all style over substance, and I don't think the style is that great and I think the substance is lacking."
